Grass trimmer



March 10, 1931. H. w. BIL-rz 1,795,421

GRAS S TR IMMER Filed plug., 8. 19.29V

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attenua@ f Patented Mar. 16, 1931 HENRI W. BILTZ, F KANSASCITY, MSSOURE GRASS TRIIVIMER Application led August 8, i329.A Serial No. 384,413. i

My invention relates to tools for triniining grass and other vegetation along the edges of sidewalks, flower beds and other places where lawnmower cannot be used to advantage, and one object is to provide a tool of this character which can be used in a standing position so that it will not be necessary for the operator to work in a steeped position as when the ordinary hand sickle or grass hook is employed.

A further object is to provide a tool of this character which is not only a labor saver but which may be manufactured at low cost and will prove durable and efficient in use.

ln order that the invention may be fully understood, reference will. now be had to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a broken side elevation of the tool.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the tool with the stad and handle broken away.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on line 3-3 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section on line 44 of Fig. 2. Y ln carrying out the invention l provide an oscillatoryT blade 2 and a stationary blade .4 having cutting edges 6 and 8 along 'their adjacent edges, and reinforcing iianges 10 and 12, respectively. rlhe rear portion of the oscillatory blade 2 has a lateral extension 14 which overlaps the rear portion of the sta- Lionary blade 4, while the latter is provided at its rear portion with a lateral extension 16 which underlies the rear portion of the blade 2.

The blades 2 and 4 are mounted upon a shaft 18 provided at its lower portion with a peripheral shoulder 18a, a short circular portion 2O arranged beneath the shoulder 18a, a short rectangular portion 22 arranged beneath the circular portion 20, and a threaded lower end 24 arranged beneath the rectangular portion 22. The short circular portion 2O provides a journal on which the 45 blade 2 is operably mounted, while the reetangular portion 22 extends through a coinplemental opening in the blade 4 and holds the latter stationary upon the shaft 18. The threaded end 24 of the shaft 18 is provided Q with a spring washer 26 and a nut 28 which CSD latter, on being tightened, draws the shoul der 18a down upon the movable blade 2 and forces the washer 26 against theunder -side of the stationary blade 4, thereby holding the two blades in contact with each other so Vthat they may prove eitlcient in cutting grass and other vegetation.

The shaft 18 is removably connected to the reduced lower end 30 of a tang 32 by suitable means such as a nut 34 and a spring washer 3 5.' By tightening the nut 34 the washerl 35 is pressed against the forward portion of the shaft 18 while a shoulder 38 on the tane, is drawn against the rear portion of said shaf 18 thereby lirmly securing the latter and the tang together. The tang 32 is bifurcated at its upper portion and secured to the lower end of a staff by suitable means such as a rivet rlhe upper end of the statiq 40 is provided with a handle'44 secured in place `by suitable means suchas'bolts 46 and 48.

The movable blade 2 is swung towards the i blade 4 by a bell-crank, lever 49 the forward end of which is adapted to push backwardly kupon a lug turned upwardly from the adjacent portion of the lateral extension 14. The lever 49 is operably mounted upon a bolt 52 extending laterally through the upper portion of the shaft 18 to which it is secured by suitable means such as a nut 54 and a spring washer 56. A spacing sleeve is interposed between the shaft 18 and the lever n 49, which latter is secured upon the bolt 52 by means of a nut 62 and a washer 64. Y

The lever 49 is actuated by a connecting rod 66 which in turn is operated by a hand lever 68 fulcrumed on a pin 69 in the enlarged bifurcated head 70 of the bolt 46. rlhe connecting rod 66 is operably connected at its lower end by a pivot 72 to the rear arm of the lever 49 and at its upper end by a pivot 74 to the lever 68.

Normally the blades 2 and 4 are held in open position by a spring 7 6 consisting of one or more coils 78 and arms 8O and 82, the forward ends of which latter extend through holes in the flanges 10 and 12, respectively.

The opening and closing movements of the blades 2 and 4 are limited by a stop 84 turned upwardly from the rear portion of the stationary blade et into a recess 86 formed by cutting away a portion of the iange l0 on the blade 2.

In operating the tool the blades are pushed forwardly upon the ground and the movable blade 2 is alternately opened and closed by the spring 76 and proper manipulation of the hand lever 68.

From the foregoing description it is apparent that I'have provided a tool embodying the advantages above pointed out, and While I have shown and described one form of the invention I reserve all rights to such other Yforms and modifications as properly fall Within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

A tool of the character described consisting of two blades havin@ marginal flanges, a shaft upon which said blades are mounted, a. spring having convolutions extending around said shaft and arms extending from said convclutions and engaging said flanges to hold the blades in open position, a lug on one of the blades, a bell-crank lever operably associated with said shaft and engaging the lug to closethe last mentioned blade against the companion blade, a connecting rod for actuating said bell-crank lever, a hand lever for actuating said connecting rod, and a staff secured to the shaft and upon Which said hand lever is mounted.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

HENRI W. BILTZ. 

